Meon Plod
THE Meon Plod is one of the toughest pre-marathon races in the calendar, a grueling 19-mileish run across the South Downs including a lovely little romp up Buster Hill.
This year’s race, which is organised by Portsmouth Joggers, takes place on Sunday, February 17th, based at the Sustainability Centre by HMS Mercury in Clanfield.
This will be the 12th running of the race, and as the event instructions suggest, the Meon Plod is “…a near 20 mile cross-country multi terrain race around the Meon Valley. Remember that the weather in February can be unpredictable, come prepared!
“This is a tough event so only those who have trained for this distance should enter. Marshals will man the road crossings; elsewhere you will have to follow arrows/tape on a way marked course. Altered course for 2008- less Tarmac than 2007.”
Just two Stubbies have entered the race so far (Aaron Kingston and the Kimbernator), and with 300 entries received by the organisers from a limit of 450, you are going to need to get in quick if you want to take part.
Entry forms can be found on the Portsmouth Joggers’ website at: www.pjc.org.uk with the cost for affiliated runners amounting to £12. There are entries on the day at £14 and the race starts at 10.30am
Two other races to put in your diary for later this year which have just opened for entries.
The Lordshill 10k, organised by Lordshill Road Runners, will take place on Sunday, June 29th at 10.30am. The race will start and finish by the Lordshill Outdoor Recreation Centre in Southampton.
Race director, Mike Dukes, reports that on-line entries will be available through Runner’s World from February, and entry forms will be on the Lordshill Road Runners’ website from mid-February at: www.lordshillroadrunners.org.uk/
A month earlier, the Fordingbridge Fire Station 10km takes place. This year the event will be held on Sunday, May 4th at 11am. Pete White is the contact for entry forms at: whitey999PMW@aol.com